You never know who you might run into when traveling. But, to meet up with friends on the little Greek island of Paros would seem to be statistically impossible. They were heading south on the ferry and we were heading north. But, our paths managed to cross on the same day in Paros. It was fun to share dinner and travel stories while making plans for future destinations. The best part of Paros, was our day trip to Antiparos. It is a short 15 minute ferry ride to a very quite and picturesque island. It is so small and quiet that [View Full Entry]

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I was inside for the most I've been since in Greece We haven't even had a meal inside yet It's all outside but today I had a grumbling tummy from the antibiotics (which also make my mouth taste bad long after I've taken them) and a greasy omlette Em was also not feeling good so we giggled at Greek t.v. we watched Alias Monk in English and a version of cash cab a game show where you answer questions in a taxi as they take you to your destination it was a Greek version and a lot more intense the inside [View Full Entry]

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Player to player games are big here it is 11:30 and (young) people are packed into this internet cafe playing games halo soccer lord of the rings battle for middle earth and smoking blug fashion note: aladdin pants are big on girls here cotton capris that drag down and look like they have a load in their pants also big 80s hair and mullets for the guys and sparkly sandels with lizards with moving parts at ancient archeological sights we went to the ancient sight of Mycene today with two headless lions guarding the entryway and hoards of people once again [View Full Entry]

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We took the overnight ferry from Hania to Piraeus to start our transit to Sparta. We started out badly with a lot of confusion over who was rooming with whom but eventually got it sorted out and were escorted to our 'staterooms' by one of the ferry staff. The rooms had four bunkbeds, two on each side, a wardrobe, a nighttable and a bathroom with a shower, very compact, very functional. The whole boat was a maze of corridors and stairs that didn't seem to have a lot of rhyme or reason to them. There was a pool but it was [View Full Entry]

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As my guidebook indicated, Sparta is not exactly overrun with great archaeological finds. We started the day at the Sanctuary of Amyklaios where there used to be a monument to Amyklaios whom Apollo slew with a misplaced discus blown into him by the North wind. This site was somewhat unique in having a pie-shaped portico labelled the 'throne of Apollo' of which nothing is still visible. The site is still being excavated and it was entertaining to view the beer and pop cans showing where the stakes are for the excavation of this 2500 year old site. The retaining wall around [View Full Entry]

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The site was inviting from the moment we drove into the park with all the oleanders and other plants and trees. We went to the museum first and it was interesting to see the many statues which were probably votives to thank Asclepius for healing them or their family. There was a plaster cast of a pair of ears attributed to Cutius, a Frankish king from 918 AD who was thanking Asclepius for healing his deafness. We then continued on to the archaeological site which was easier to visualize after having seen the site plan in the museum. The hotel was [View Full Entry]

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This is my favourite spot on the itinerary. It has great historical sites in the vicinity, good shopping, lots of great restaurants, awesome gelaterias and an inviting atmosphere without the plastic you get with a North American tourist trap. It also has good swimming and an ok beach. I understand there is a better beach around the corner, as well. We started our sightseeing by taking a taxi to Palamidi castle. It was well worth the 5 euro not to have to climb the 999 stone steps leading up there in 25-30 degree heat. The view was amazing and the castle [View Full Entry]

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Tiryns was very impressive. The thought of the ancients wrestling those ancient stones into place, wow! The stones must weigh tonnes and the walls were 7-11 m thick and many meters tall. It was an amazing complex with casements and rooms and tunnels to underground cisterns. It was the sort of place that you wouldn't be surprised to find a strong guy like Hercules showing up at with his latest prize while King Eurystheus peered fearfully over the massive gates. After Tiryns we went to the Argive Heraion and it was interesting to see the various levels of temples deposited down [View Full Entry]

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Continuing our southerly route along the Peloponnese coast and through the Saronic Islands, we have been travelling considerably slower than our first 2 weeks. We have visited reasonable sized towns and found a few lovely bays, but not many. Old Epidavros is a safe harbour and nice town. While there we took the bus inland to the ancient archaeological site and the “theatre” which is very well preserved. Around the site 2000 year old buildings are being renovated to their former glory with EC money. Unfortunately, in many cases they are 90% renovation and only 10% original. Kate’s birthday was a [View Full Entry]

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Hello Everyone! We found a great pension/domatia in the Old Town of Nafplion with both a great view of the Bourtzi -the photos of it are from our balcony :) and the fortess Palmidi which we climb, all 999 steps to the entrance and then it had to be another 999 up to the top and then it seemed 10,000 back down in the afternoon heat:0 The fortess was built in 1715 and then was conquered 3 years later (lousy investment) I guess it was not the best design but it was so way cool. We then went to the Epiderues [View Full Entry]

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